Fix it Again, Tony - letters from June 2008

June '08

Feature Article from Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car

First, I want to applaud you guys for putting out such an informative magazine, with real-world drivers, not a bunch of trailer queens that never get driven. Now for my question. I own a 1972 Mercedes 280 SL (daily driver), and found a couple of bird droppings on the trunk that had been there for a few days. When I washed them off, it left marks in the paint. Any suggestions on how to get them out? The car has the original paint job, so it's not in the best condition already. Keep up the good work!
Carla McPhee
Talent, Oregon
Nature has played a cruel joke on mankind by creating animals that can fly AND poop at the same time. It wouldn't be so bad if they had to land to do their business, then take off again, but no. Scare up a large flock of these winged creatures, and watch the carpet bombing begin. I think most species of city birds can now recognize a brand-new or freshly washed car, and take great pleasure in leaving their mark. The next time you're at the car wash, look around. See that group of crows eyeing your new BMW as it comes out to be dried? See how they give each other that knowing look? Hear the battle cry as you tip the attendant and drive off to work? You get in a little late, so the only space left is in the hot sun. You won't even notice you've been tagged until it's too late. They'll get you, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. So, back to your paint issue. It all depends on what the bird had for breakfast and how deep into the paint the etch is. Can a 36-year-old paint finish really fend off something like this? All I can suggest is to try a good cleaner wax and put up a bird feeder in the next county.
I found a 1975 Fiat Spider in my neighbor's back yard. He said it has been sitting there for the last 12 years, and it ran when parked. If I get it out, he'll sign the title over. There is too much grass growing around it for a good look, but I'd like to get your opinion on whether I should take it or not.
Chad Cunningham
Santa Rosa, California
Well, let me answer it this way, without the luxury of seeing the car. First, you're talking about a 33-year-old car. The ravages of time are not kind to the best kept Fiats. Grass holds moisture. Moisture causes rust. Rust ruins metal, especially thin Italian metal. Have a good look at it, and if the body is in good shape, why not pull it out and see what happens. A word of caution: If you decide to go forward, do it because you want to have some fun knowing you might have more money into the car than it's worth. If you ask me, though, I think your neighbor is just trying to get you to mow his lawn for free.
I have a 1966 Lotus Elan S2 that has the old style rubber couplings at the axles. I was underneath the car over the weekend and noticed that both of them have small cracks in the rubber. Should I be worried about this, and is it worth the money to go to a U-joint style axle? I don't know if these things are still available. Thanks in advance, and I enjoy your magazine.
Josh Kramer
Via e-mail
The Rotoflex couplings are still available and take a little knowledge to install them properly. One false move and the swear factor will hit the roof. Here is a good Web site that goes into the detail that I can't here: www.lotuselan.net/publish/rotoflex_installation.shtml. Small cracks are fairly common as they get old, but if you don't know their age, why risk expensive damage? As far as replacing them with something different, you could go with a CV joint setup, but they're spendy. Here are my pros and cons for both: Rotoflex--inexpensive but you get the "bunny-hop" if you're a clod on the clutch, and if you're going to breathe on the engine, they won't hold up too well. CV joint--good for hotted-up engines, bulletproof but expensive, and you'll feel all the driveline lash when you're on and off the throttle. Give Jeff Robinson at JAE a call (805-967-5767), and he'll get you set up with whatever you decide. He is extremely knowledgeable and will point you in the right direction.
I just bought a 1985 Subaru GL-10 wagon and was looking for the spare tire. It's not under the vehicle or below the cargo area, so either it's missing or I don't know where to look. Maybe these things don't get flats?
Sara Jensen
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Subaru, from the late '60s through the late '80s, found what they thought was the perfect place for their spare tires. What better environment for vulcanized rubber than under the hood just above a blazing-hot engine. Who says we should depend on the spare not to explode at 80 on the turnpike next to that semi with the driver who has been awake for the last 59 hours? The last thing I want to do is open the hood in the middle of summer to extract my spare, branding the palm of my hand with the wing nut that holds it down. Call your local junkyard, and see if they can fix you up, but bounce the tire on the ground first to see if it breaks.
Questions for Tony? Send an e-mail to ask_tony@hotmail.com. Or, if you live in a cave and don't have access to a computer, write a letter to Fix it Again, Tony, c/o Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car, P.O. Box 904, Bennington, Vermont 05201.

This article originally appeared in the June, 2008 issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car.